Bethenny Frankel is beyond Mompreneur!

Have you heard of Bethenny Frankel? If not I might be concerned you've been living under a rock.

I first took notice of Bethenny when she appeared on the Apprentice Martha Stewart, she was a fast talking New Yorker. I was single then and she represented everything I ever wanted for myself... go-getting in the biggest city in the world. My life led me in a different direction, but then I hadn't seen Bethenny on my screen for years.

Then the Real Housewives Series started and the New York version started and she appeared on my screen all over again. Here I was watching her unfold her whole life on TV for the audience to watch and see so much about her. But we started to watch her grow this company called Skinny Girl.

Now you might say well I don't watch reality TV, but it doesn't matter... she now is making waves on the cover of Forbes for her business savvy. Because not only did she grow her Skinny Girl product, it's going to grow and be a money maker. Best part as a female is that she taught the licquor companies that Women are worth catering to in the spirits industry and not listening to us is suicide.

The Skinny Girl Margarita is hands down great... a mere 100 calories per serving, it touches to heart strings of the women not looking to gain weight but drink with the big boys, their girlfriends or even when they just need a drink alone! Guilt free... don't be mistaken, drinkers are concerned, head over to your closest local bar and ask the bartender what the most ask for drink from a female is and he will oblige with Vodka & Soda... but it isn't a fun drink. Trust me I've tried consuming it, not worth the effort! But that's the Diet girls drink of choice.

Finally in Canada (been in select US stores for a while now) we have options, and to help promote the Skinny Girl Margarita Bethenny chose to making appearances in Toronto and Vancouver. I wasn't going to miss out... here is a woman who is trying to balance a very lucrative business, motherhood and dealing with celebrity.

And Bethenny has come full circle for me, she is representing the newest dream I have for myself, Business woman with child (I have more than 1) but with perseverance to grow a business to make it successful and to never take no for an answer. She really inspires the new generation of women. It was a pleasure meeting her for multiple reasons, her smile infectious, her graciousness filled up the room.

Who is your business model? Who is your mom mentor?

Social Mom Monthly

Meet Vicky, she's the first Mom chosen for the Social Mom Monthly highlight. We started with a Toronto mommy, she is in my hometown and I am big believer that Toronto is a really social city. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Vicky myself but we've become twitter buddies and I am always in awe of how busy and bustling she is and how she's mastered the art of the juggle. You can always tell by how active she is on her twitter handle @momwhoruns... follow her she's great!

1. Tell me about yourself! -- A daughter who is 11 and a son who is 15 year old. I am a food sales rep and I love my job. It allows me to still get the job done while having the flexibility to drop off lunch at school when they forget it in the car!!--- she also has a great little blog at Mom Who Runs
2. How do you like to stay social? What sources of social networks do you use to stay connected? --I am very social... tweet-ups, events (interior design show, beer festival, etc.) meeting friends for coffee (this is critical). LOL
3. Does your social life ever interfere with your family life and how do you make it balance? --sometimes my daughter says "I wish you didn't have to go to so many events". I took her to an event once so that she would have an understanding of what they are like. She had a blast!!
4. Do you have separate social events for work and life? --Absolutely. I couldn't see myself going out three nights in a row to events.
5. I know you excercise... but do you find excercising a social regimen? Do you find it adds or distracts from your social calendar? --I love to excercise. It's a must!!( kinda like having a coffee.) It feels good to excercise... mentally and physically.
6. What was the most favorite thing you spent money on recently? --This year I spent $$ on a MacBook, an Ipad and a Canon DLSR. I am loving all three purchase... way more than a Michael Kors handbag. My fave purchase would have to be the Ipad; it's just such a cool toy.
7. Do you have a social calendar in your house, something where all your weekly or monthly events are up for display? How do you use it? --We have a calendar in the kitchen to track appointments and my husbands travel schedule as well as invitations for dinners/parties etc.
8. Do you use social media? What is your biggest personal benefit you get from it? --I'm loving Twitter. It has expanded my network in a huge way.
9. When you do go out what is your primary choice of enjoyment, what kind of events do you prefer to attend? --I mostly go to tweet-ups at a restaurant that I have not been to or to an event. I recently went to a Molecular Gastronomy event!
10. If you can tell a Mom about the benefits of having a social life, what would you say to them? --Its good for you. Simple as that. It's nice to know that you are a mom... but that there is a world outside of "mommyhood".

It was really great to have Vicky be the first of the Mommy's to share. Next socially mommy resides in California... stay tuned!!!

Cheers!~~

Pretty Little Face!

So I am vain... kill me!

Hard to call myself vain, you won`t catch me with my hair blown out on a daily basis, not wearing the most expensive duds or a full face of make-up... but when people tell me my skin is flawless; I know it is! Has been for as long as I have had it and I don`t try and mess around with a good thing!

I actually hate talking about my skin because it makes me feel guilty about not dealing with trivial experiences that are teen acne or adult acne. But my skin aged beyond it`s years after having my second daughter... now when you meet me you will guess my age or maybe if I am lucky a year or 2 younger; but just 2 years ago I was still getting 6-7 years younger! I reveled in it!

So when I heard about this organic facial that is fast and wonderful... I couldn't miss out on the opportunity! Months planned in advance I had anticipated getting this facial... some fine lines appearing I needed to get them in check fast. So I walked in and was greeted by @blushpretty from Fresh Beauty, how great was this location right in the health conscious Carrot Common on the Danforth, I was told my facial wouldn't take long at all due to my great skin (personal score and ego boost at that), a very wonderfully organic exfoliator was used on my skin, followed by a really cool organic crystal microdermabrasion which does not feel odd what so ever, even though you are preempted, having kids and a tattoo this felt like nothing at all. It was followed by this really cool technique that was called Cold Laser... follow along here I am a fan of this little technique!! My skin glowed from the blood rushed to the pores... it was so great how fantastic my skin looked for days after. My pores minimized and well even my husband said I looked younger lately.

So if you get a chance to head down to Fresh Beauty tell them Angie sent you, it really is a fun and fast experience... and it leaves you with glowing skin. Now to send Mike for some pampering because well he deserves a little bit of pampering!

Cheers!

Sitting in the audience...

Sometimes I do fun things... sometimes I just stay home and clean out my cupboards, but on both occasions I get happy.

Today, I got to sit in the audience of Steven and Chris on CBC, this is not my first time sitting in the audience, in my early 20s I got to sit in the audience over at CityLine and even get called in for another show for a hair makeover. But this format was different and a lot of fun, the show is done pre-tapped, and it's amusing to see the slip-ups and honesty that comes from these guys.

I went to the show with my mom and my coumbara (Greek for my daughter's godmother); my mother had never done anything like this before, the whole time she glowed, with a perma-smile. It was really nice to see that coming from her. She has had a hard couple of years and she deserved to do something out of her box, best part is I think she is hooked, she wants to go again. **which I think is so absolutely cute and endearing**

I wish I had taken my camera, perhaps next time! During all the commercial sections of the show, the audience warm-up guy gave some great gifts, we played some fun games... it was really more fun than I can explain.

If you want to catch the episode I was sitting through it will be on at 2pm on December 15th, early birthday gift!

Cheers!~

Out and About and all around!

I really do enjoy my outings, I really enjoy outings that feel worth getting dressed, getting a sitter and driving into the core of the sitting attempting to find parking and make enjoying the evening!

I really really have to give it to GotStyle for not just putting together a nice event, but getting a crowd that fill the room and make you want to stay there and not run for the Hills! While I brought my husband to the Naked Mens Boxer Briefs event at the new Got Style Location (60 Bathurst St.,) which may I add I am a fan of, we had already missed the fashion show.

(the wooden art piece in the middle of the store)

Don't get me wrong, I would have enjoyed to see the models peruse through the crowd of people, but this crowd was uplifting and social... talking, networking and making a Men's Event something worth talking about. Men's wear doesn't get the attention Female labels do... yet 50% of the population are males and they make an average median income that is far greater than their equal counterparts, women!

I love Men's Fashion, it is the hidden art of making a man more impactful, of adding a certain sense of self with the most accurate amounts of simplicity. Men's Wear couldn't handle the tsotchkies and severe changes, they couldn't handle the large shifts in their closets. It's in the simplicity of the details in which men's clothing makes a mark.

(husband with George Strombo)

Got Style did a fantastic job, we had fun... it also helped that George Strombolopoulos made an appearance, surely there wasn't a woman in the room who wasn't swooning.

(me and Strombolopoulos)

I got scented!

I have been so crazy busy around here lately... truly like a chicken with her head cut off! With 2 weddings, 2 toddlers in a odd behavioural age and a campaign --- Momma needed an outing!

And was it ever easy to do so, when you get invited to figure out what scent you are!

The lovely Jen booked me and some lovely ladies out for a nice little experience in the world of scents at Aromachology. It was a fun meet in the pop-up store in the Four Season's Hotel during the hustle and bustle of Toronto International Film Festival with recent sitings of Scott Speedman and Gene Simmons.

Me and the lovely bloggers @luckypennydaily and @karmacakedotca

I was greeted and was handed a lovely questionnaire with different descriptors I see myself in, one even made me laugh... but I like to laugh about how I perceive myself. I was a mix of 2 different scents, but Sophisticated and Sensual- floral won out! But then you can keep going... pushing through with more adjective named scents to add to your base to create a scent that is just right for you.

Now I am not a daily perfume girl... don't tend to wear one, but when it's about getting pretty wearing something stunning, putting on makeup, nails done, stilettos on, you need the scent... because you want to be a all senses kind of experience for your boyfriend, husband or hopeful new suitor. And please... mommy needs to feel sexy too!

The scent note bar

But what a joy to add hints of Open-minded, creative and spontaneous to the scent mix.

I had a blast doing this little experiment, it truly was a fun distraction from the last while. Please do check them out online, or stop by the Bay in Yorkdale Toronto... or Henri Bendell's NYC; make it a girls day--- you'll thank me!

Cheers!~

I am a SIZE DOWN!

WOOOHOOO!!!

Took a very very long time in my liking... but I am a whole friggin size down! OK! I am sooo stoked about this. ( I can't believe I just used that darn word)--- but this feels huge to me.

This has been a busy couple of days you'd think the weekend just started but the weekend is a few days away. The husband and I went to an event yesterday night and it was fun and boring all at the same time. Fun because we were laughing our heads off at our own little jokes, and 2 Indian sisters had taken a liking to my husband and were giggling up a storm with him

It was Canada Day today... and well we had a garden cleaning day followed by a real great dinner with my dad on the Danforth. Love when we get to hang out with him, it's so great for the girls. And he's the only person who dedicates to speak to them in other than English. It's hard to speak to my girls in all the languages that I speak... but sorry tangent.

But I am really enjoy the small but noticeable transformation I am seeing... and enjoying! So hope your weekend is as great as my day is today--- ENJOY people!


Cheers!~

The Ballet stole my heart!

Mommy Outings!

So every once and a while I will post about different outings that this mommy goes out on, I tend to get invited to industry related events, cool art events, fun social outings and most of all great mommy outings with other great mommies. So follow along for the next fun item.

But this week it is Onegin... you read and perhaps understood what that means, and for others such as myself who had never heard of it. I went to see a Ballet based on a Pushkin Novel.

I am so blessed that I often get tickets from a fantastic source that my husband and I have seen the utmost beautiful pieces of masterpieces that the National Ballet of Canada puts together. I have seen some modern ballets, Nutcracker and them even do West Side Story. Why am I telling you all the ballets I have seen... well because people. Onegin was truly the most beautifully done ballet I have ever set my eyes on. It was so fantastic I am still in AWE of it and that was on Tuesday that I saw it.

We happened to be there for a very special evening`s performance, we happened to be there for the 20 year Anniversary of Sonya Rodriguez`s with the company. What a feat, no? Getting to do what you`ve wanted to do for over 20 years--- not to mention dancing everyday of your life, how beautifully magical.

So I actually got 4 tickets to the ballet this showing, I never get 4 tickets may I add. I definitely have never been given 4 tickets in the Orchestra section of the ballet but I did. And so my quest to find a set of friends who are a couple who might want to go on the most fantastic double date started... and I got not one bite. I guess pimping my tickets on Facebook is not a great option but that was happened. But I ended up taking on of my neighbours who I never had gone out with before and one of my youngest`s godparent... and I truly had a great night. I got all gussied up and even wore my little and lovely Betsey Johnson rose print wedges.

Cheers!